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georgilini's review
4.0
This was a good book and I read it at the right age I feel (21). This book feels like a warning yet also an invitation, a good book that’s worth the read but perhaps the people of the right wing would not be fans. Maybe they would and it would read as a comedy but to me it read as quite a sad, yet inspiring, story. I truly don’t know what I think of it but I like that. Not all books need to be as simply described as “a fantastic, great piece of literature” …
em8297's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
dremps92's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
alenasnder's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
crunden's review against another edition
❧ audiobook review
Sometimes, as humans, we decide without consultation what would be best for people.
It made for a nice listen and the narrator was quite good. Spike was interesting character and his relationship with Joaquin is explored well. The political conversations and musings are thought-provoking, and Hensher certainly knows how to write witty dialogue. I'm just not sure what my thoughts are on this one. Overall, though, the prose was good, and it made for a nice addition to lgbt+ historical fiction.
☆ Blog | Twitter ☆
Sometimes, as humans, we decide without consultation what would be best for people.
It made for a nice listen and the narrator was quite good. Spike was interesting character and his relationship with Joaquin is explored well. The political conversations and musings are thought-provoking, and Hensher certainly knows how to write witty dialogue. I'm just not sure what my thoughts are on this one. Overall, though, the prose was good, and it made for a nice addition to lgbt+ historical fiction.
☆ Blog | Twitter ☆
littlesophie's review against another edition
5.0
Hensher's new novel is a political Bildungsroman that is bound to ruffle some feathers on its publication. It follows a group of students from Northern England from the 80s to our present day, charting their ideological and professional evolution through the years.
While they all start from a radical left position, the superficiality of that position and the flexibility of ambitious characters is gradually revealed. Hensher is damning in his portrayal of these characters and his anger shines through the work, giving the novel a gripping urgency. The similarity to actual British politicians is very obvious.
The authors expertise and knowledge of Britain's political landscape are apparent and add authority to the novel. The episode set in Germany was particularly convincing, creating a believable and nuanced picture of the two Germanys before the Fall of the Wall.
In the beginning I found the prose slightly contrived and overly clever, however that might have been due to the protagonist's own precocious and arrogant youth, as the prose relaxed significantly later in the book.
Overall, an intelligent, gripping and refreshingly angry novel, that doesn't pull any punches when dealing with its explosive subject matter.
While they all start from a radical left position, the superficiality of that position and the flexibility of ambitious characters is gradually revealed. Hensher is damning in his portrayal of these characters and his anger shines through the work, giving the novel a gripping urgency. The similarity to actual British politicians is very obvious.
The authors expertise and knowledge of Britain's political landscape are apparent and add authority to the novel. The episode set in Germany was particularly convincing, creating a believable and nuanced picture of the two Germanys before the Fall of the Wall.
In the beginning I found the prose slightly contrived and overly clever, however that might have been due to the protagonist's own precocious and arrogant youth, as the prose relaxed significantly later in the book.
Overall, an intelligent, gripping and refreshingly angry novel, that doesn't pull any punches when dealing with its explosive subject matter.
sunflowersandpomegranates's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
0.25
This book and author is transphobic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Rape
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Transphobia
lupinslovergirl's review
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kailashkai's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
crunden's review
❧ audiobook review
Sometimes, as humans, we decide without consultation what would be best for people.
It made for a nice listen and the narrator was quite good. Spike was interesting character and his relationship with Joaquin is explored well. The political conversations and musings are thought-provoking, and Hensher certainly knows how to write witty dialogue. I'm just not sure what my thoughts are on this one. Overall, though, the prose was good, and it made for a nice addition to lgbt+ historical fiction.
☆ Blog | Twitter ☆
Sometimes, as humans, we decide without consultation what would be best for people.
It made for a nice listen and the narrator was quite good. Spike was interesting character and his relationship with Joaquin is explored well. The political conversations and musings are thought-provoking, and Hensher certainly knows how to write witty dialogue. I'm just not sure what my thoughts are on this one. Overall, though, the prose was good, and it made for a nice addition to lgbt+ historical fiction.
☆ Blog | Twitter ☆